You can't call yourself a Bend local without paying respects to the place that started it all…read more Yeah, the wait can get long on summer weekends, but grabbing a pint of Black Butte Porter and a pub burger at the downtown house just never gets old. Always solid, no matter how much the town grows.

These days it's getting harder to find a veggie burger that isn't full of chemicals and trying to…read moresimulate "meat"; so we were thrilled when we came across Deschutes that had a veggie burger that was made from jackfruit and pinto beans! Yay! It was the best veggie burger my husband has had in a long time... he added avocado and vegan cheese (which did make it a bit pricey). Awesome that you can do many different sides including regular fries, Cajun fries, salad, chips, and more options... do wish they had onion rings however. I got the hummus plate which was good but not the best I've had. It came with a baguette which was more like garlic bread so I would have, personally, liked pita more. It also had a few olives on the side with a red pepper type sauce. I got it with no pickled onions. They had a great beer selection and even a few tasty non-alcoholic beers. Also had kombucha on tap which was delicious (from Humm). Everyone working was super sweet and the vibes were relaxed and casual. Our food came out quick and exactly how we ordered it. They also seemed to have spaces for larger parties, too. They also have a little gift shop if you wanted to pick anything from shirts, to bottle openers, to beer candles and more! Would come back again!

Hands down the best smash burger in town, I've been gong since the food cart days at The Podski,…read moreand the quality is still undefeated. The 'OG' double has those perfect crispy, lacy edges that you can never quite get at home. Simple, no-nonsense, and fairly priced compared to everywhere else in Bend right now. Pro tip: Don't skip the loaded fries.

Look. I've eaten burgers in a lot of places. Airports. Gas stations. One time outside a golf course…read morethat didn't even technically sell burgers. But this place in Bend... this is serious burger territory. First thing you notice: they're not messing around with the menu. Just burgers that understand what a burger is supposed to be. Double patty. Brioche bun. Cheese doing its job. America. I ordered The O.G. because I respect tradition. American cheese, caramelized onions, burger sauce. Simple system. Works great. Like a pickup truck that starts every time. My buddy got The Popper which is basically what happens when a jalapeño popper and a burger start collaborating. Bacon, jalapeño cream cheese, ranch. It looked like something a scientist made to test the limits of happiness. Fries were solid. Soda cold. No weird nonsense. Just burgers doing burger things. Only reason it's 4 stars instead of 5 is because if I lived closer I would probably eat here too often and that feels medically irresponsible. I'd give it 6 stars if Yelp understood burgers better.

I'm not a big steak person. In my years in Bend, I'd yet to go to any of the many steakhouses in…read moretown (except Blacksmith for burger and drinks at the bar), and there are quite a few. On a whim I decided I wanted a steak and Brickhouse was recommended by friends who do eat steak a lot. Good choice. I sat at the bar and ordered a 6oz filet mignon off the 4-5 PM menu. Absolutely no negatives. Everything was top tier including the service at the bar and cocktails. The space is quite comfortable and you're not subjected to loud music. I may become a steak eater.

I entered the doors in a full sprint, escaping the laughably powerful gusting walls of sleet…read morerolling down the street. I was glad to be greeted warmly before heading to the bar. I took a moment to study the vintage photo of the original firehouse that now serves as the brick bones of the restaurant. Awesome seeing the original garage doors and recognizing where the fire trucks would have sat in waiting. They even kept the fire pole above the bar. I found myself wishing other areas of the restaurant had been designed or decorated more intentionally to honor its soulful past. It wants to be a high class spot, but something about the interior design feels underwhelming. I enjoyed the drinks I tried although the menu seems a bit unimaginative. The energy was strange, maybe it was that night, but bar staff seemed to be a bit "altered" and on edge. One was wearing what may or may not have been an intentional cologne that smelled like the overpowering essence of hot rubber mixed with cigar smoke, and leather. I ended up ordering the fresh steelhead and it was amazing. Caesar salad was lovely. And the drink of the night was called something like a White Christmas but was sort of a wintery margarita. Awesome night in the end. But I prefer the Redmond location.

An unfortunate event lead to our trying this most excellent restaurant. A broken piece of artwork…read moreneeding restoration necessitated a trip to Bend, OR. Between the exceptionally good food at Hook and Plow, a most pleasant hotel experience, and a memorable trip to the High Desert Museum; our trip to Bend turned out to be a pleasure instead of the miserableness I expected. We had the Steak Tartare, the Chef's Board, the Blackend Crabcake, the Pear and Burrata Salad, and the Bone-in Pork Chop. We each got the cheesecake for desert and split the other dishes. This was more than enough for the three of us and we left full, happy, and with three large to-go boxes. The flavors of the various dishes were amazing. While all the dishes were vvery good, the standouts to me were the steak Tartare, the Pear and Burrata Salad, and the Cheesecake.

Bend, OR has its share of delicious fine dining restaurants and The Hook & Plow is no exception…read more While the food is on the high end side, the vibes were definitely more casual. We were greeted by the host and seated quickly. We started our meal with a delicious non-alcoholic drink and the Chef's Board: a charcuterie with an assortment of cured meats, rustic bread, and various spreads. That came out pretty quickly. Unfortunately, our main courses came out much, much later and lukewarm. Luckily, the food was good enough that it made up for the temperature. I had the NY strip steak. The steak and the Boursin mashed potatoes alone were very good. The pickled onions and chimichurri complemented the meat very well. The meal was supposed to include brussel sprouts but came with a grilled broccoli cauliflower assortment instead. My wife had the Scallop Risotto which was also a great recommendation from the server. In reality, The Hook & Plow deserved 3 1/2 stars but that's not an option on Yelp. It may have been an off night for the staff, so I will give them the benefit of doubt. We would be open to trying it again sometime in the future.

Food truck courts are not that common from my neck of the woods. My sister lives in Bend and…read morerecommended this spot, I ended up spending a couple afternoons here in my recent road trip! They are host to a bunch of killer food trucks, AND they have a great bar serving a great collection of local microbrews. The locals are very cool and inviting of out of towners like myself! Old school Nintendo 64 Mario golf going on the big screen made this a fun place to hang out for sure! Go here.

When I travel, I don't normally go to the same place to eat at more than once. This was an…read moreexception. Food Cart Pods are not a thing where I'm from, so whenever I see one, it's pretty exciting. First of all, do all Cart Pods have names? I love this one; "The Podski", HA! Ok but beyond that, this place had so many delicious and unique options. We had Italian arancinis twice, a sampler of Pierogis, delicious oyster shooters and shrimp tacos. One thing we didn't get but looked awesome: I don't know if we missed out on some gem, but so many people were getting the burgers/fries from one truck. Also, so many other people were getting stuff from the Thai truck. And to top it off... the beer/cider station had an awesome deal. For about the same price you'd pay for a typical pint, they pour about 20 ounces of happy beverage into a taller than I expected glass. The picnic tables are colorful, there's a covered tent if you're feeling cold, people are friendly... it's just overall a great place to chill, drink, & eat.

We parked in front of the Wells Fargo Bank, and two security guards were watching us, and since…read morethey've been watching us, I confronted them, where a good place to have lunch. They recommend us two restaurants, and one was the Pine Tavern, where there's a lake view, which my husband were planning (anyway) to take us. We've got two hours to park there, so we hurried and we found it across the street. We were seated (by a window as I asked), and directed us to our seats. We ordered the same sandwich, with different side dish. He got French Onion soup, and I had Clam Chowder with our Half a Tuna Sandwiches. I was surprise to see vegetables in my Clam Chowder, that was a first! Both were quite good, except I didn't care for Onion Soup. Hubby loves his. I've taken photos inside, and only the next day, hubby realized there are two huge tree trunk inside the living room. ('Really? I didn't see that!' he questioned). My photo showed it, and we were talking to a cousin visiting with us, and we're talking & laughing about the trees, even after showing him my photo. It was hilarious! Our waitress gave us a complimentary dessert for our wedding anniversary. We picked Sky High Mud Pie. (Thank you!) We made the right choice to come here! BTW: They also have nice restrooms, and curtain for privacy room dining.

My boyfriend and I had dinner here our first night in Bend, which happened to be St. Patrick's Day…read more We had totally forgotten the day, and were surprised to find the entirety of downtown packed with people! We had decided to try this place because of its particular historic relevance to Bend. Luckily, since we only had a party of two, we were able to get a table relatively quickly. They had live Irish music for the celebration and people were packing in like crazy. We were seated in the very front of the restaurant, so unfortunately we didn't get to see the back area with the tree trunk growing through the ceiling. It was far too busy for me to feel comfortable wandering around to sightsee inside. It's a cute older building with a traditional pub vibe, and the menu mostly has a slightly elevated pub food to match. Photos of varying significance line the walls. Many seem to reflect famous people who may or may not have been patrons over the years. My boyfriend ordered the fish and chips, and I ordered the mac and cheese with bacon. While both are simple dishes, they were both prepared well and quite tasty. The waitress was very efficient, but also laid back and friendly. We liked her a lot. I don't think you're going to experience a groundbreaking culinary experience here, but we did enjoy the quality of the classic dishes we ordered. The portion of mac and cheese was so big that I took leftovers and had the second half of it for lunch the next day. The prices seemed fair for the portions we received. I would come back here again for the friendly vibe, solid food, and lack of pretentiousness.

First day in town (found this suggestion from a local Bend blog), and pleased with staff,…read moreatmosphere, and food. Wide variety on food menu, several OR taps available, as well as full bar. TV's available for March Madness. Outdoor seating available as well. Children welcome! Parking somewhat an issue.

Brother Jon's is my go-to spot downtown when I want great bar food and a good atmosphere. The food…read moreis some of the best bar food in Bend, the service is always solid, and the staff is friendly. It's also a perfect place to watch a game and hang out with friends. Great environment, good drinks, and consistently good food. Definitely one of my favorite spots in Bend.

This place is a gem. The dining area is like stepping back into your grandmothers house - cozy,…read morebright, and welcoming. The wait staff is cheerful and efficient. The food was creative and thoughtfully prepared! I am so lucky to have stumbled upon McKay Cottage for breakfast before heading back to North Carolina!

Cozy Brunch Spot offering unique Seasonal Mimosas & Cocktails. The indoor dining spaces have lots…read moreof windows and natural lighting and the stone fireplace gives McKay Cottage that cozy feel. We sat outside in the heated tent with our fur baby - they are dog- friendly. Food & Service are fantastic! Lives up to reputation for being best Brunch Spot in Bend. Hubby had classic Eggs Benedict that he said was very good. I started with a warm Chai and a Bobbin for Apples Mimosa which was magical. Having read the reviews I was prepared to order the stuffed croissant French toast. Last minute change of heart- I ordered the Gobbler, a roast turkey sandwich on a croissant with a flavor profile reminiscent of Thanksgiving. The sweetness of the fig jam played well with the poached pear, savory turkey and peppery arugula. Dessert will have to wait until our next visit. The pastry counter at the front of the restaurant displays cinnamon roles, scones, muffins and impressive cakes. There's even a marionberry and white chocolate bread pudding that would make a wonderful brunch choice.

From the decor and atmosphere to the unique cocktails and attentive service, Dear Irene is one of…read moreBend's best restaurants. They offer a fixed menu with great starters, salads, and entrees. We ordered the scallops which were full of buttery deliciousness, the chicken which was cooked to perfection with crunchy breading on the outside, and a creamy polenta dish. You can't go wrong but be sure to order one of the salads. Our favorite was the baratta and citrus salad with olives and pine nuts. It has all the textures and sweet-salty goodness you could want. As for cocktails, our favorite was the pear and side piece drinks. The presentation is beautiful and they really are one of a kind. We'll be back!

I randomly stepped inside this place noticing the pretty decor and classy interior. The service was…read moreexceptional from start to finish. I was served by a tall male bartender who was incredibly personable--we talked quite a bit, and honestly, I'd go back just for that experience alone. That said, the drinks he crafted and the food that came out of the kitchen gave me plenty more reasons to return. I ended up ordering an impressive amount of food, and by the time I hit my fifth large course, he joked that he'd have to pinch himself if I actually finished it. I couldn't help it--everything was that good. He also pointed me toward the owner, who clearly knows exactly what he's doing in the kitchen and carries himself with confidence and intention. Every aspect of this place felt immersive, like stepping into a classy, well-directed film. The atmosphere, the food, the service--it all came together seamlessly.

The waiter was very attentive and knowledgeable, even memorizing the drink menu and helping guide…read moreour orders. The baby back ribs were absolutely to die for, tender and full of flavor. I had them and was very satisfied. Drinks were great, and we appreciated the non-alcoholic mocktail options for part of our group. The fries were a bit salty and the steak was slightly overcooked, but that wasn't my plate. Overall, still a great experience. The ambience was great and made for a comfortable, enjoyable meal.

We ate here on a recent trip from Eugene and we're excited to see a cajun style restaurant in Bend…read more The restaurant is nice inside and has a low key upscale feel. The menu isn't very large and I think we both settled on choices quickly, deciding to try the most "quintessential" entrees to share. I chose the Blackened Redfish, and my boyfriend the Jambalaya. Even though we had already decided, the waitress went on her whole spiel through the menu highlights, including what we had already had planned to order. Awkward, but it was fine, and we didn't stray from our original choices. The Blackened Redfish was perfectly cooked and flaky. It was served on a bed of mashed potatoes with a slightly tangy sauce. All of it was tasty, but I was a bit disappointed in the lack of spice to the blackening seasoning and the sauce. Also, serving it on grits instead of mashed potatoes would have made it feel 100% more Cajun, even with lack of seasoning. The Jambalaya fared a bit better, although my boyfriend was also left puzzled by the lack of spice to this classic dish. In all ways it was a very good representation of New Orleans style red jambalaya, with the andouille sausage being particularly notable for flavor. The cornbread it came with was pretty good. We shared a piece of chocolate cake for dessert. A very decadent concoction of chocolate, peanut butter, and caramel. It was one of the better $12 slices of cake I've had. Overall? The service was good, if not a bit awkward with the menu spiel. The food was all very well prepared, but for a Cajun style restaurant they sure could stand to spice things up a bit. It's not cheap, but at least the entrees are a full sized meal and you don't have to order many "tiny plates" to cobble together a dinner.